News: Recently, Sentinel-6B, an ocean-tracking Copernicus satellite, was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
About Sentinel-6B Satellite
- It is an ocean-tracking satellite with six science instruments launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
- Joint mission: It is a joint mission between the United States’ NASA and NOAA, and the European Space Agency (ESA).
- Launched vehicle used: It was launched by Falcon 9 launched vehicle.
- Aim: The mission aims to measure sea-level rise and ocean conditions with high precision and maintain a reliable sea-level record.
- Data from Sentinel-6B is expected to improve the accuracy of weather forecasts, including storm and flood predictions, enabling administrators to make better real-time decisions to safeguard public property and protect coastal infrastructure.
- This launch is the fourth successful Copernicus Sentinel mission of 2025, following Sentinel-4A, Sentinel-5A, and Sentinel-1D.
- Key Features
- It orbits Eearth at 7.2 kilometres per second and completes one revolution every 112 minutes.
- Pay load:
- It is equipped with a highlyaccurate radar altimeter (developed by ESA) that measures the height of the ocean surface to within a centimetre.
- Advanced Microwave Radiometer (AMR-C), provided by NASA.
- A Global Navigation Satellite System Precise Orbit Determination (GNSS POD) receiver, developed by ESA.
- A Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS Receiver).
- A Laser Reflector Array, provided by NASA.
- A GNSS Radio Occultation instrument, provided by NASA.
